March 2014

PE REPORT
Rep. Lipinski Aims to Make a Difference

Is there a record on Capitol Hill for consecutive years supporting EWeek?

Many politicians around the country are supporters of engineering and the profession’s contributions to society. But if you’re looking for a politician whose support really stands out, see US Representative Dan Lipinski.

Each year since 2005, when he was elected to Congress, the Illinois Democrat has introduced a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of Engineers Week.

DiscoverE (formerly the National Engineers Week Foundation) hosted EWeek this year from February 16–22, with the theme “Let’s Make a Difference.”

Lipinski’s resolution highlighted engineering’s influence: “by engaging young students, parents, and educators in hands-on science, technology, engineering, and math, engineers help them discover how they can make a meaningful difference in the world.” It also pointed to the image of the profession, saying, “an overwhelming number of people in the United States (87%) find that engineering is the profession that most frequently contributes to positive innovations and inventions in society.”

Lipinski holds a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering, a master’s in engineering-economic systems, and a doctorate in political science. As one of the few congressional members with an engineering degree, Lipinski pushes for improvements to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. His annual resolution recognizing EWeek and its benefits acquires numerous signatures from congressional peers. Last year’s resolution had 14 cosponsors.

The 2014 resolution recognized some of the areas necessary for improvement, pointing out that engineering graduation rates “for women and underrepresented minorities do not reflect our national demographics, with only 19% of bachelor’s degrees in engineering being earned by women.”

In conclusion, the document resolves that the House of Representatives would:

1. Support the goals and ideals of EWeek so as to increase interest in engineering and promote technical literacy;
2. Recognize that engineering education is essential to US education and economic prosperity; and
3. Ensure that solutions designed by the engineering community can be advanced by research, development, standardization, and innovation.

To learn more about Engineers Week, visit www.DiscoverE.org. To read the resolution, visit www.lipinski.house.gov.